Match Preview: Bradford City

12 September 2022

Action has returned to Prenton Park as Bradford City are the latest side to take on Micky Mellon’s men on home soil.

The fixture is the first since the extremely sads news of the passing of HM The Queen Elizabeth II and both players and staff will mark the occasion with multiple marks of respect including black armbands and a minute silence.

But after football at all levels was cancelled last weekend, Tranmere will look to get back to winning ways after suffering a 2-0 defeat to table toppers Leyton Orient last time out.

A positive result will begin to continue last season’s formidable home form which saw Rovers occupy a play-off spot for the large majority of last season and Rovers have won their past two home league games and look to make it three on the bounce against Mark Hughes’ side.

As for Bradford, they’ve started the season fairly positively picking up three wins from their first seven games as well as picking up two draws.

After remaining unbeaten in their last three games, it’s going to be a challenge for the Whites to break Hughes’ side down who have only conceded six goals so far this campaign.

Team News:

Rovers remain without the availability of Tom Davies, Luke Robinson, Kyle Jameson and Charlie Jolley. Kieron Morris is set to return to full training this week whilst Paul Glatzel and Dynel Simeu are avaialble for selection.

One to Watch: Richard Smallwood

After coming through the ranks in the North-East with Middlesborough, Smallwood made over 50 appearances at the Riverside and left 4 years on from his professional debut.

In 2014 he went out on loan to Rotherham United in a move which turned permanent and Smallwood spent three years at Rotherham totting up over a century of games for the Millers.

More recently Smallwood has enjoyed spells in England’s second and third tier with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City respectively before joining Bradford in the summer.

A huge signing for a league two side, Smallwood got an early goal to add to his statistics in the 2-0 win over Newport County and will look to add to those figures as the season progresses.

Manager: Mark Hughes

An attacking player who played for some unbelievable clubs across his playing career, Mark Hughes is no name to be sniffed at in the football world.

Featuring heavily for Manchester United before spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Southampton, Hughes has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world.

After finishing his career at Blackburn Rovers, he took over as Wales manager until 2004 and then spent four years in charge at his old club Blackburn.

He then had spells in the Premier League with Manchester City and Fulham before spending five years at Stoke City. His final Premier League job to date was with Southampton which ended after nine months and 3 months later he was announced at the Valley Parade as Bradford City manager.

An announcement that shocked thousands, Hughes was ready to take on what he considered to be a big club and take them back to the level he believed they should be at.

After finishing 14^th in the fourth-tier last campaign, Hughes will be aiming to get Valley Parade bouncing with one of the highest average home attendances across the bottom two tiers and see Bradford have a much more successful season.

Match coverage:

Tuesday's game will be streamed live on iFollow in both the UK and abroad! Click here to get your match pass now for just £10

You can also follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Bradford City

13 September 2022

Tranmere Rovers suffered narrow defeat on Tuesday night against Bradford City under the Prenton Park floodlights.

A brace from Andy Cook either side of a Kane Hemmings goal was enough to see the Bantams return to Yorkshire with all three points.

The first half was one mainly dominated by the visitors who started the game really brightly and took the lead after just three minutes. Richie Smallwood’s corner from the left was met by an unmarked Andy Cook inside the six yard box who leapt highest to give the Bantams the lead.

Not long after, Bradford struck the woodwork. A deep cross into the box was met by Matty Platt who headed the ball downwards and onto the left hand post before bouncing to safety.

The game was limited in terms of chances from that point until the 36th minute. Rovers latched onto a couple of loose balls before Elliott Nevitt shifted the ball onto his right foot and shot low into the legs of Crichlow inside the box.

Just before the break, Tranmere had another half decent chance. Ethan Bristow paced down the left to eventually find Dacres-Cogley at the far post who could also only see his shot blocked as it headed goalwards.

After being told to up the tempo in the second half, that was exactly what happened. Paul Lewis and Elliott Nevitt won the ball back inside the Bradford half before feeding Kane Hemmings inside the box who expertly curled into the top left corner of the goal to put Rovers on level terms.

A matter of minutes later, Hemmings nearly completed the turnaround. A poor defensive header looped into the air on the edge of the box where Hemmings was waiting and his left footed volley skimmed the post and was agonisingly close to giving Tranmere the advantage.

Another chance went begging for Micky Mellon’s side on the 65th minute. Elliott Nevitt was the one to meet Ethan Bristow’s inviting cross from the left but the striker could only glance wide of the far post.

Those missed chances would prove costly as Rovers were struck with a sucker punch on the 75th minute. A hopeful cross from the left was firmly met by the header of Andy Cook once again and the former Tranmere favourite thundered a header past Doohan to send the away fans into raptures.

Rovers nearly responded immediately. Lee O’Connor turned well in midfield before picking out Paul Lewis inside the box with a pinpoint pass but his header wasn’t directed on target to trouble his namesake Lewis in the Bradford goal.

That was to be the last of the goalmouth action as Bradford held on for the victory on the Wirral.